Olympic referendum: Turnout at nearly 46 percent

Hamburg's referendum on whether to pursue a bid for the Olympic Games has recorded a turnout of approximately 45.7 percent by early Sunday afternoon. More than 600,000 eligible voters in the city have cast their ballots either for or against Hamburg's candidacy for the 2036, 2040, or 2044 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

As of 2:00 p.m., 41,048 votes had been cast at polling stations, adding to the roughly 560,000 mail-in ballots received. The voting period continues until 6:00 p.m., with preliminary results expected around 10:00 p.m. The German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) will select Germany's candidate city on September 26. Hamburg faces competition from Munich, the Rhine-Ruhr region (with Cologne as a hub), and Berlin.

The outcome of the referendum is uncertain, with no clear trend emerging beforehand. The pro-bid camp, led by the city's red-green Senate and supported by parts of the business and sports communities, has actively campaigned for a 'yes' vote. Opponents include The Left party, the AfD, and environmental groups, along with the 'NOlympia' initiative. Hamburg's mayor, Peter Tschentscher, stated he would be satisfied with a result of 50 percent or more. This follows a previous failed bid for the 2024 Games, which was rejected by voters in 2015.

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This time, Mayor Peter Tschentscher (SPD) would already be satisfied with a result of 50 percent plus.